Queen Elizabeth II will not attend a service of thanksgiving for her upcoming 70th year of her reign as Queen.
The Queen has been invited to Buckingham Palace due to the festivities on Thursday and will be participating in a beacon lighting ceremony from Windsor Castle later.
“Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate,” the monarch will not attend Friday’s national service.
“Her Majesty with great reluctance has concluded that she will not attend.” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
The Queen and her family watched the celebrations on Thursday from Buckingham Palace. Huge crowds of people went to the Mall in London. There were a lot of tourists in the area around Buckingham Palace and the nearby St James Park during the first event of the four-day weekend celebration.
At the age of 95, the monarch lived up to her reputation as a loyal and loved figure. Even though she was not able to ride on horseback as part of Trooping the Colour, a military parade that is traditionally led by the monarch, she still appeared on Buckingham Palace’s balcony when people cheered for her.
Dressed in a dusky blue outfit with a matching hat, the Queen smiled as she received the salute from soldiers and officers. They had just come back from Horse Guards Parade after the end of Trooping the Color.
The UK Ministry of Defence described the event as “a major military spectacle,” which involves months of training and centuries of tradition, as well as 1,500 soldiers and officers, 400 musicians, 250 horses, and 70 aircraft.
Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, usually represent his mother in ceremonial roles. His daughter, Princess Anne, and son, Prince William rode closely behind him during this event. Other members of the royal family took part in the parade on horseback, including Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who was in a carriage with her three children and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
As musician’s played, and colors were trooped, soldiers marched in formation. This was done while military bands performed the “spinwheel” maneuver. Other royals watched from a nearby building.
The Queen appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with her cousin, the Duke of Kent.
Her daughter, Princess Anne and her four grandchildren, Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice, Andrea and Eugenie joined her. Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex did not appear on the balcony as the Queen decided last month that those who carry out royal duties would be included.
But earlier in the day, the Sussexes had gone to watch the Trooping of the Colour ceremony in their first public appearance with royal family since they quit working as royals two years ago.
The Queen of England only allowed working royals to appear on the balcony. This meant that Prince Andrew, who was stripped of royal titles after his civil sexual assault lawsuit in the US, did not appear on the balcony. It has been announced that he is not attending Friday’s Thanksgiving service because it had recently come to light that he tested positive for coronavirus. A member of the royal family said that he saw his parents in the last few days, but had not seen them since testing positive.
The highlight of the show was the awesome RAF flypast. It included majestic 70 planes, including a stunning Red Arrows display.
One person seemed a bit unimpressed at the celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years as monarch. This was 4-year-old Prince Louis, who was seen with his hands over his ears and making faces.
The prince’s family did not seem bothered by his behavior, even arranging themselves in formation to make the number 70 when planes flew over.
Later, more than 3,000 beacons will be lit in the UK and in other areas of the Commonwealth. The beacon lighting tradition is a long-standing royal event where beacons mark coronations and other special occasions.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement. “The Queen is looking forward to tonight’s Beacon Lighting event at Windsor Castle and would like to thank all those who made today such a memorable occasion,”
